Abstract: There is disclosed a bi-centric joint for use in an orthopedic support system which includes a plurality of interdigitating tubular elements, secured upon planar base means, in which hubs from which said tubular elements project are secured to proximal and distal sections of the orthopedic apparatus. The length of each interdigitating tubular radial spoke is such that, upon the passage of said spoke through a centerline defined by the centers of rotation of the hubs, a pivot action at the end of such spoke against a peripheral surface of said proximal or distal section will occur. The result is a simulation of natural movement of a human joint.

Abstract: A rotary joint, especially for a prosthesis, e.g. to allow a user to assume the lotus position, as a pair of relatively rotating parts including an outer part and an inner part braced at coaxial bosses by tapered rollers forming a play-eliminating tapered roller bearing. An inclined roller bearing is provided between outer peripheries of disk portions of these parts. A housing enclosing the parts contains a locking device in which a locking element is spring biased to engage the parts with teeth of the locking element engaging in teeth of the two parts. A push-button can be depressed to retract the locking element and permit relative rotation.

Abstract: A hydraulic device for controlling the knee-joint function in a leg prosthesis has a cylinder which is divided into first and a second cylinder parts adapted to be fixed to the lower leg of the prosthesis, and a piston rod which carries one piston in each cylinder part and is fixed to the upper leg of the prosthesis. The pistons divide the interior of the respective cylinder parts into two chambers. The adjacent first chambers of the cylinder parts are interconnected by a throttle device. The two, second chambers are also interconnected. One piston has a sealing member which is of a single-acting type to allow leakage of hydraulic fluid from the second chamber to the first chamber when the piston is moved in a direction reducing the volume of the second chamber, while it is completely sealing when the piston is moved in the opposite direction. A connection is provided between one of the first chambers and one of the second chambers.

Abstract: A knee joint assembly utilized in an above knee prosthesis includes an upper half member, a lower half member, and a locking pin assembly for locking the upper and lower half members together. The upper member has a front face having a lower edge, a center rib which is orthogonal to the front face, and two upper surfaces, one on each side of the center rib. The two upper surfaces are each upwardly sloped from the front to the rear of the upper member when the upper member is locked together with the lower member. The lower member includes a base having a lip protruding horizontally. The lower member also includes two ramps extending parallel to each other and extending vertically from the base. The ramps each have a sloped surface.

Abstract: A compact and lightweight knee joint for a prosthetic leg that can be locked or released with low operating forces comprises upper and lower members interconnected by a pin at a posterior location. A latch pivoted to one of the members for rotation about a vertical axis releasably locks into a recess in the other member to hold the joint in its extended position. The upper member has depending cheeks between which a head of the lower member is received. Adjoining horizontal faces of the upper and lower members are planar and a pad of elastomeric material attached to one of the planar surfaces serves as an extension stop buffer. The latch is blade-like and of bell-crank shape. It fits into slots in the anterior edge of each cheek and is pivoted in one of the slots with an anterior lever thereof spanning between the slots and with a latch head thereof fitting into the other slot. A cable release is fitted to the medial/lateral lever for release of the latch.

Abstract: A joint for an orthotic device comprises a pair of pivotally connected members and means for limiting the angle through which the members may pivot, the limit means being adjustable so that the angle through which the members are permitted to move may be adjusted to a predetermined desired value, the joint has been found to be particularly suitable in a hip guidance orthosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an appliance for controlling an unstable knee joint in the sagittal, coronal and transverse planes, comprising femoral and tibial cuffs joined by links which are interconnected to provide a novel mechanical joint wherein camming slots are formed in one of the links with cams disposed on the other link, the slots comprising straight segments and arcuate segments so as to provide approximately 8 millimeters of sliding movement between the femur and tibia, followed by relative rotation about the center of radius of the femoral condyle as the leg is flexed. The tibial cuff is conformed about the boney prominence or shin of the tibia to inhibit rotation of the leg beneath the knee within the brace itself.

Abstract: A brace for controlling the degree of motion of a person's knee. The brace includes a first cuff for releasable securement to the thigh portion of the leg and a second cuff arranged to be releasably secured to the calf portion of the leg. Elongated brace members extend between the upper cuff and the lower cuff and are interconnected by polycentric hinges. A set of pairs of wedge-like stop members are provided with the brace. Each pair of wedge members is arranged to be releasably secured to associated brace members adjacent the hinge means to serve as stop means precluding the extension of the brace beyond a maximum extension angle. Each pair of wedge members establishes a different maximum extension angle. Bands are also provided to hold the brace in place on the leg.

Abstract: A hydraulic device for controlling the knee-joint function in a leg prosthesis has a cylinder which is divided into first and a second cylinder parts adapted to be fixed to the lower leg of the prosthesis, and a piston rod which carries one piston in each cylinder part and is fixed to the upper leg of the prosthesis. The pistons divide the interior of the respective cylinder parts into two chambers. The adjacent first chambers of the cylinder parts are interconnected by a throttle device. The two, second chambers are also interconnected. One piston has a sealing member which is of a single-acting type to allow leakage of hydraulic fluid from the second chamber to the first chamber when the piston is moved in a direction reducing the volume of the second chamber, while it is completely sealing when the piston is moved in the opposite direction. A connection is provided between one of the first chambers and one of the second chambers.

Abstract: An orthotic joint, and the orthosis with which it is used, for the protective treatment of ligamentous injuries or deficiencies, or as a supplement to total joint replacement. The joint includes a tibial member defining a narrow, upwardly-opening socket and a femoral member having a planar head portion slidably received within that socket. Therefore, on each side of the head portion are a pair of opposing and slidably engaging surfaces, one provided by the head portion and the other by the side wall of the socket.

Abstract: A motion guiding load bearing external linkage for a knee is provided by plates fixed to the medial and lateral sides of the tibia and femur by transcutaneous pins or incorporated in a knee brace fitting above and below the knee joint. The tibial plates have a planar load bearing surface while the femoral plates have a circular load bearing surface. Linkages are provided for guiding the center of rotation of the femoral load bearing surfaces in the direction of the tibial load bearing surfaces as a function of the degree of knee flexure. This linkage comprises an extension of the tibial plate having a slot which engages a pin fixed to the femoral plate at a point off-set from the center of rotation. This linkage positively guides the motion of the center of rotation along a single path which is predetermined by the radial and annular position of the pin.

Abstract: Several knee stabilizing braces include an articulated knee joint support having upper and lower support arms, a first hinge bar pivoting on the upper and lower support arms and extending diagonally between them, and a second hinge bar pivoting on the upper and lower support arms and extending diagonally in an opposite direction for intersecting the first hinge bar. The two hinge bars allow relative rotation of the support arms while resisting relative forward or rearward sliding motion of each arm. Adjacent ends of the arms rotate into contact when they rotate to an upright position to stop further rotation beyond the upright position. One preventive knee brace has the upper and lower arms releasably affixed to flexible cuffs wrapped around the patient's upper and lower leg to hold the brace adjacent the knee joint.

Abstract: An artificial limb having two limb members connected by a joint is provided with rotator members, comprising one of the limb members, which are relatively rotatable about an axis extending along the limb. The rotator members are generally cylindrical, with the outer one forming a rotatable sleeve about the inner one. One of the rotator members has a concentric radially extending flange with an opening near the perimeter. A locking mechanism is provided on the other rotator member which is movable from a locking position to a released position. In the locking position, the locking mechanism provides a rigid connection between the two rotator members by inserting a plunger in the opening, thereby preventing rotation between the rotator members. When moved to its released position, the locking mechanism removes the plunger from the opening, thereby permitting relative rotation between rotator members.

Abstract: An adjustable connection for adjoining parts of an artificial limb comprises a first and a second coupling element, each of which forms part of or is intended to be fixed to a respective one of the aforementioned artificial-limb parts to be connected together. The adjustable connection includes set screws which are intended to hold the coupling elements, and therewith the artificial-limb parts releasably in desired positions relative to one another. The coupling elements have centrally located, mutually coacting support surfaces, and the set screws are arranged in an outer annular flange which depends from one coupling element and encircles the other coupling element with a clearance between the elements, and which has an unloaded annular edge.

Abstract: A joint structure for a knee brace in which the axis around which motion takes place is not fixed but rather simulates that of the natural joint, lengthening and shortening with it. The joint structure includes two slidably-coupled joint elements, the lower one of which has a ramp member and a pair of furcations. The head of the upper joint element is received between these furcations and connected thereto by a pin which passes through an elongated slot formed in the head. As the joint elements rotate toward each other from their fully extended position, the pin slides from the upper to the lower end portion of the slot, increasing the overall length of the joint structure with flection as does the human knee joint.

Abstract: The modular components of an orthopedic leg brace assembly are strung together in bead-like fashion on a flexible cable arrangement and the components are removable so that they may be unstrung and replaced for repair or for replacement with longer components to accommodate for a user's growth. The components include an ankle-foot orthosis and upwardly extending side braces of stanchion form with an upper securing strap arrangement for securely surrounding a user's lower leg, a second pair of side braces of stanchion form with an upper securing strap arrangement for securely surrounding a user's thigh, and knee joint assemblies joining the ends of the braces to simulate the normal action of a user's knee during flexion and extension of the leg. The flexible cable arrangement allows the user to rigidly hold the entire unit in aligned, fixed relation when the leg is extended.

Abstract: A hydraulic damping unit, particularly for use in artificial joints. The unit includes a cylinder housing having a screw-in bottom part. A hollow piston is guided in the housing and has on its jacket a shoulder which delimits with corresponding flanges on the inner wall of the housing two chambers of variable volume for storing a hydraulic liquid. A hollow throttling piston is guided in the main piston and is formed with an annular recess which communicates with respective variable volume chambers via passages passing through the jacket of the main piston at both sides of the shoulder. In the range of both passages, the bottom of the recess of the throttling piston is connected to the outer surface of the latter via a sloping annular surface which, depending on the relative position of the throttling piston to the main piston, adjusts the clearance of the passages to control the resistance to flow of the hydraulic liquid.

Abstract: A fluid cushioning apparatus acting as a pivoting medium of two objects having a pivoting feature includes a sleeve, a shaft and a partitioning piece. The shaft has two radially enlarged annulations being closely and rotatably mounted in the sleeve and a dividing wall being axially and radially extended between the two annulations to closely engage with the interior wall of the sleeve. The sleeve is mounted on a first object and the shaft is mounted on a second object which is always to have a pivoting relationship with the first object. The partitioning piece is capable of being closely fitted among the sleeve, the shaft and the two annulations and is secured on the sleeve so that the space formed between the shaft and the sleeve is divided into two compartments.